Monthly Archives

Syndicate

Friday, May 22 2015

Barn Notes: American Pharoah Gallops at Churchill Downs

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Friday, May 22, 2015) – Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI) winner American Pharoah had his first gallop since his seven-length romp in last Saturday’s Preakness Stakes (GI) in preparation for the final leg of the Triple Crown, the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes (GI) on June 6. The homebred son of Pioneerof the Nile galloped 1 3/16 miles over the Churchill Downs main track Friday at 8:30 a.m. following the renovation break with exercise rider Jorge Alvarez up.

American Pharoah Returns to Track; Jogged at Churchill Downs

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Thursday, May 21, 2015) - Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I) and Preakness (GI) winner American Pharoah (7-6-0-0-$3,730,300) returned to the track Thursday for the first time since Saturday's seven-length romp in the slop at Pimlico Race Course. The 3-year-old flew from Baltimore to Louisville on Monday to begin preparations for the 147th running of the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes (Grade I) on Saturday, June 6 from his classic's base at Churchill Downs Barn 33.

Saturday, May 16 2015

PREAKNESS STAKES QUOTES

Winning trainer Bob Baffert (American Pharoah): “What a day for Baltimore. They really needed this after all they’ve been through. I’m really happy for them. I just love coming here.”

“He’s just an amazing horse. Everyone talks about the greatness and it’s just starting to show now. To me, they have to prove it. Today the way he did it, he just ran so fast. Iit was like poetry in motion.”

Celestine gets up in time for Wait A While win

ELMONT, N.Y. - James A. Bryan Jr.'s Celestine made her first start in a new barn a successful one, kicking clear to a 1 ½-length victory in the $100,000 Wait A While Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on Saturday at Belmont Park.

The sophomore daughter of Scat Daddy began her career last fall in South Florida for trainer Bill Kaplan, breaking her maiden in her fourth start and graduating into stakes company with a 3 1/4-length score in Gulfstream Park's Sanibel Island Stakes on March 29.

SAGAMORE RACING PIMLICO SPECIAL QUOTES

Winning trainer Todd Pletcher (Commissioner): “This was awesome. I’m very happy. I loved the position he was able to get into. Once he gets into that rhythm, you can keep on cruising. Right after the Skip Away, we talked about it and decided to go to the Pimlico Special. We’ll see how he comes out of it. It’s 22 days to the Brooklyn Handicap, so that’s possible.”

Winning jockey Javier Castellano (Commissioner): “He was very strong today. He minded so well. I was able to tuck in around the first turn and he was just galloping along. He can go 24 (seconds) and 48, that’s him. I didn’t ask him until we turned for home. The more distance the better for him.”

BLACK-EYED SUSAN QUOTES

Assistant Tammy Fox to winning trainer Dale Romans (Keen Pauline): “Dale took his time with her in Florida. She had a couple of months off. She came back for the Keeneland race and it set her up perfect for this race here. Yesterday, when I galloped her over this surface, she loved it. She loved everything about it.”

(On Javier Castellano’s ride): “What more can you say? You have the best of the best on the horse. He knew how fast he was going. That helped a lot. When you can see a horse’s ears just pricked like that and he’s sitting. He did a great job on her.”

Friday, May 15 2015

PREAKNESS NEWS & NOTES - 5.15

Justin Zayat Living the Dream with American Pharoah
Firing Line Has a ‘Good Morning’ at Pimlico
Casse Expects Less Stressful Trip for Danzig Moon

BALTIMORE – With his obligations as a student at New York University completed, Justin Zayat, racing manager for Zayat Stables, spent Friday morning at Pimlico Race Course checking up on his family’s Kentucky Derby (G1) winner, American Pharoah.

Preakness News & Notes - 5.14

Derby Winner American Pharoah, Dortmund Gallop with High Energy

Stevens High on Derby Runner-Up Firing Line

Danzig Moon Gets Acquainted with Pimlico Track

BALTIMORE – After watching Kentucky Derby (G1) winner American Pharoah and third-place finisher Dortmund gallop over the track at Pimlico for the first time Thursday morning in preparation for Saturday’s 140th running of the Preakness Stakes (G1), trainer Bob Baffert said that he liked what he saw.